Field: legal and finance background; currently interested in AI, ethics and governance

Position & Organization: Vice President, Berggruen Institute; Director of the Institute’s China Center

How did you get started in this field? Concerns with and interest in big issues; No longer interested in continuing to pursue a “normal” professional life (e.g., legal, banking etc.)

What do you like about your work? We work on generating fresh thinking and innovative ideas for the great transformations of our time. I love the huge learning opportunity of this work. I also love the fact that we work with interesting thinkers from across a wide spectrum of disciplines….

What do you not like about your work? Too many meetings at times

Do you have any advice for women who want to enter this field? Women should embrace and dive into this new area of thinking about the future of humanity. Male dominance in past millennia in shaping the world and in how we approach the universe, humanity, and life needs to be questioned. More broad based, inclusive, non-confrontational and equanimous thinking, which is more typically associated with the female approach to things, is sorely needed in this world.

What makes you hopeful for the future? The whole world — regardless of gender, cultural or religious backgrounds, or political stripes — is galvanized by the existential risks of humanity. I am hopeful that humanity will gain the required wisdom and enlightenment in addressing the challenges ahead.